About
Broussonetia papyrifera is a deciduous tree or sizable shrub featuring grey-green leaves that are hairy and can vary in lobing, reaching lengths of approximately 20 cm. The male flowers appear in pale green and possess cream-colored anthers, arranged in catkins that can grow to 7 cm in length. Female flowers form in spherical clusters, characterized by elongated, pale purple stigmas. When pollinated, these flowers develop into sweet, edible orange fruits.
About the genus
Broussonetia consists of deciduous trees and shrubs that feature alternate leaf arrangement. The species exhibits a dioecious reproductive system, with male and female flowers appearing on distinct plants.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Trees
- Habit
- Suckering
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- S, SE Asia
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Will only survive in mild areas, but will grow in almost any well-drained soil, in full sun with shelter from wind. Where summers are hot enough to ripen wood, will mature as a tree, otherwise remains shrubby
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in autumn, or by semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings, or by removing suckers
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Susceptible to canker and leaf spot